England’s Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed grabbed three wickets to cut through Pakistan’s middle order on Friday as the hosts were reduced to 187-7 at lunch in reply to the visitors’ first innings 267 on day two of the deciding third and final test.
Saud Shakeel, batting on 72, forged 50-plus partnerships with Shan Masood and Mohammad Rizwan to keep Pakistan going but Rehan’s 3-25 helped England nose ahead in the spinner-dominated contest.
Noman Ali was batting on six with Pakistan still 80 behind.
England captain Ben Stokes began the day with spin from both ends and Saud got a life on 26 when he edged Shoaib Bashir low into the shin of wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
Lanky off-spinner Bashir would not be denied, however, and removed Pakistan captain Shan for 26, caught in the second slip.
Rehan was brought in somewhat late but did not take long to make his mark, trapping Rizwan lbw for 25. Rizwan burned a review on his way back to the pavilion trying to get the decision reversed.
In his next over, Rehan removed Salman Agha in the same fashion and went on to fox Aamer Jamal with a googly, which the batter could only glove to his stumps.
The series is level at 1-1.
Earlier, Jamie Smith (89) and Ben Duckett (52) scored fifties but England’s most frontline batters overall struggled against the turning ball.
Pakistan’s spin duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali ran through the England lineup as they claimed six and three wickets, respectively, followed by Zahid Mahmood took one wicket.
After departure of skipper Ben Stokes (12), Jamie Smith revived his side by scoring crucial 89 runs off 119 balls along with Atkinson’s 39 off 71. Zahid removed Smith in 62nd over, whereas, Atkinson was caught and bowled by Noman.
This is a developing story and is being updated with more details.